The subject invention comprises a headlamp moisture control system that comprises
at least one desiccant and at least one valve. The desiccant comprises an interior
desiccant surface that forms an intake passageway and an exterior desiccant surface
that forms at least one exhaust passageway. Further, the exterior desiccant surface
area has a surface area that is greater than the interior desiccant surface area.
The at least one valve can comprise an intake valve and an exhaust valve or it
can comprise a combination valve. In either embodiment, the at least one valve
prevents the desiccant from constantly being exposed to air that contains moisture.
The moisture control system prevents moisture from entering a headlamp assembly
during the cooling of a headlamp by only allowing air to enter the headlamp assembly
through the intake passageway over the interior desiccant surface. To prevent the
desiccant from being saturated, the desiccant will be regenerated during the operation
of the headlamp assembly by exhausting dry, heated air from the headlamp assembly
through the at least one exhaust passageway over the exterior desiccant surface.
Thus, the desiccant will be regenerated and ready to absorb moisture from the incoming
air once the headlamp assembly is turned off and begins to cool.
